Reciprocating-tool-operating machine



E. GAUTHiER.

RECIPROCATING TOOL OPERATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED News. 1918.

1,403,858, Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

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' JizflenTor ErnesTGazTlhler UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST GAUTHIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COM- IANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RECIPROCATING-TOOL-OPERATING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Fetent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Application f led November 9, 1918. Serial No. 261,798.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST GAUTHIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reciprocating-Tool- Operating Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to machines. for controlling the operation of reciprocating tool cutting or forming mechanisms such as punch presses or heading machines, and more particularly to the driving of such mechanisms.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of drive for machines of this character whereby the general operation and structure of the machine will be improved.

In accordance with one feature of this invention there is provided a driving mechanism which will protect both the driving and driven elements against injury due to sudden stops and starts. This is accomplished by the use of friction drive mechanism which will cause the driven member to accelerate gradually from zero to normal operating speed, will maintain the speed constant throughout all normal operations of the mechanism, but will slip sufficiently to prevent breaking or injury to the operating mechanism due to abnormal conditions, or injury to the driving mechanism due to a sudden load on it.

Another feature of this invention relates to the mounting of the motor and the driving connections, whereby a compact and convenient form of drive is provided.

Other features of this invention relate to the means provided for compensating for wear on the driving pinion and for disconnecting the driving pinion from the driven member.

In the drawings in which this invention as applied to a punch press Fig. 1 is a View in front elevation with parts in section of the upper portion of a punch press, and

ig. 2 is a view of a portion of the end of the press with parts broken away.

As shown in the drawings, 5 designates a fly wheel carried by a crank-shaft 6 rotatably mounted between standards 7 and 8. Contrailed by the crank-shaft 6 is a reciprocating crank arm 9 which may control the punch in a well known manner.

Mounted upon the top of the punch press is a braoket member 10 which supports a driving motor 11 and a stationary shaft 12 upon one end of which is loosely mounted a friction pinion 13 and a sprocket wheel 1& driven by means of a chain 15 from the motor 11.

The friction pinion 13 is provided with a faced portion, preferably of cork or paper, which engages the inner peripheral face of the fly wheel flange 16 which is extended inwardly to afford a larger bearing surface for the friction pinion. The friction pinion 13 and the sprocket wheel 1& are secured to a sleeve 17 which is rotatably mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 12.

A portion of the shaft 12 which is supported inthe bracket 10 is square in cross section and is adjustably supported at one end by means of set screws 20-20, by means of which it may be adjusted vertically. At its opposite end the shaft 12 is slidably mounted between the sides of a bracket member 22 and is supported upon a spring 23 which normally tends to raise this end of the shaft upwardly to bring the friction pinion 13 into operative engagement with the flange 16 of the fly wheel 5. The lower end of the spring 23 rests upon a disk 21 which may be raised by means of a set screw 25 to increase the tension in the spring and thereby the pressure between the friction pinion 13 and the cooperating face of the fly wheel 5.

Plvotally mounted above it and engaging the upper surface of the shaft 12 is a cam member 26 upon which is carried a lever 27 which may be raised or lowered to bring the friction pinion 13 into and out of crigagenient with its cooperating surface on the fly wheel 5. lVhen the lever 27 is forced into its normal position the cam 26 thereon engages the upper surface of the shaft 12 100 to move it downwardly, thereby disengaging the friction pinion from the fly wheel. In its normal or up position the lever 27 through its cam 28 permits the spring 23 to move the pinion 13 into engagement with 105 the fly wheel.

By extending the flange of the fly wheel 5 and locating the friction pinion to engage the inner peripheral surface of this fly wheel it is obvious thata greatersurface of engageengage the outer peripheral surface of the fly wheel. This arrangement has the additional advantage that the pressure'of the pinion is against the weight of the fly wheel thereby relieving the strain on the crankshaft instead of adding to it. r A further advantage obtained by this invention is that of mounting the driving motor directly 011 the machine where it is accessible for repairs and utilizes for its mounting a minimum amount of space.

With a friction drive such as described the general operation of machines of this class is greatly improved, inasmuch as the fly wheel due to its inertia cannot be started suddenly as can the motor which drives it, and the coeflicient of friction varies with the slip of the driving and driven members, thereby permitting the fly wheel to be brought gradually up to normal running speed and maintaining it at such speed for all normal operations of the press. Should it happen, however, that the press is stalled from overload or wrong adjustment, the slippage between the driving and driven member will cause the power transmitted to fall off, thereby preventing the breaking of parts of the press or a sudden overload on the motor which would occur with a more positive drive.

Moreover it has been found that the use of a drive of the character described permits the elimination of compensators' for the motor for all sizes of dnives up to and including five-horse power.

The feature provided for engaging and disengaging the friction drive from the fly wheel is of considerable advantage when changing punches and dies or making repairs to the press in the course of its operamy name this '1918.

as the lever 27 is more conveniently operated 7 than themotor switch. The advantages of the adj ustable: feature of the shaft 12 for compensating for wear on the friction pin ion are obvious.

that is claimed is:

1. In combination,'a fly wheel, a friction drive member therefor, a stationary shaft for said friction drive member, a spring bearing against said shaft to maintain engagement between said friction drive member and said fly wheel, and means for moving. said shaft against said spring to dis engage said friction drive member and said fly wheel. 7

2. In combination, a fly wheel, a friction drive member therefor, a shaft for said friction drive memben, adjustable supporting means at one end of said shaft, and adjustable spring supporting means at the other end of said shaft. 4

3. In combination, a fly wheel, a friction drive member therefor, and a non-rotatable shaft upon which said friction drive member turns loosely, said shaft adapted to be adjusted at either end to bring the driving face of said friction drive member into proper engagement with said fly wheel.

4. In combination, a fly wheel, a friction drive member therefor, a non-rotatable shaft upon which said friction drive member turns loosely, a stationary bracket for supporting said shaft, said'shaft adapted to be adjusted at either end in said bracket to bring the driving face of said friction drive member into proper engagement with said flywheel. r

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe 14th day of October, A. D.

ERNEST GAUTHIER. 

